Poll: Are you happy with your current supplier? VOTE Please

[MrSandman]

Report Spam button used

[Slinky]

Hey! SleepyBoy!! Another Michigander! A belated welcome to the forum!

[boston]

guess i missed the spam posting, but they shuolda put HELL NO I AINT HAPPY as an option. Im stuck with my DME for my machine, but everything else will be coming from cpap.com from now on.

[OldLincoln]

I am tickled beyond all expectations about my DME and they are NOT Allstate Medical. They are SleepQuest who offers equipment and replacement supplies and to date I have all good to report about them. And no I do not work for them nor do I normally give all DME's a free pass.

Perhaps if all 21 members who voted YES would list their DME it would balance out any spam intent. I perceive it is market based research and a very positive thing, in fact I recall a lot of posts suggesting if they (DME's) want to know what to do right just ask us. If I were a marketing for a DME that's exactly what I would do. Know your client base and their expectations then meet or exceed them.

[JeffH]

Since I fired Lincare, yes.

JeffH

[Bert_Mathews]

Nor did Wright & Filippis! Their RT wasn't convinced that we were even eligbile for Medicare paid mask cushions much less that we could even be eligible for them ONCE A MONTH! In the 13 months I was w/them, the only hose I got was the one that came w/my CPAP. When I needed a part for a broken mask they "didn't have one" until I pitched a bit of a fit and their EMT managed to find one in their "miscellaneous parts" box. At least he was pleasant. I had to call Resmed directly to force them to replace a defective device. They wouldn't handle a Recall for me.

I use Wright & Flippis, they usually get the order mixed up, but always have UPS pick it up & then send me what I need. It depends who I get on the phone, now that I know who to talk to there it should be much better...

Wright & Flippis in Lansing "Could screw-up a wet dream!!" Dumped them after 8 months of TOTAL Headaches even had to deal with their head quarters that had the same quality Idiots ....

My vote is for https://www.cpap.com -- JUST wish they were doing Medicare stuff!


BERT

[tomjax]

Whether spam or not, the real problem with such a "POLL" is that it is totally meaningless.
2 people can go to the same provider and come away with totally opposite satisfaction levels.
Many times this is totally subjective and reflects the sensitivity of the customer and that the provider does not make the person happy.

No useful data or conclusion can come from such a poll, even if it could be considered a poll.

Just another topic for those who like to chat,

I could be wrong.

tom

[RosemaryB]

Mine is a qualified yes. They were not good at the beginning and gave me a very hard time with getting an Autopap. They are not as knowlegable as people on this board about OSA. The first repiratory therapist I had with them was a know-it-all who dished out misinformation about mouth leaks not mattering. She's no longer there. They now have some decent respiratory therapists who listen and are interested and seem to know what they are doing. They do seem to understand the complexities more. One of them has OSA himself.

The main reason for the yes vote is that they have gotten me every mask I asked for, including the nasalaire II and the Headrest. They have done this cheerfully. I have talked with the manager of the cpap department who suffers from OSA himself and I believe he really does care about providing good service to cpap users. It is a local company with a local reputation to uphold, so I think they do try harder. They are very prompt about getting me the supplies.

If we had better sleep doctors and the industry was better overall, I think this company might be excellent. I have a friend who gets diabetic supplies from them and really likes them. He had a horrible time with previous suppliers, I think one was Wright and Fillipis. I'd give them a grade of B. They are much better than any of the chain companies like Wright & Fillipis, Apria, etc. I've talked to these other companies locally.

I do recommend this company to others.

[Kiralynx]

My answer is a qualified yes.

I did not understand about complex apnea, and would have had no idea what kind of machine to order. The RT at the New Orleans Apria did, and recommended my BiPAP Auto SV, suggesting that the doctor write the prescription specifically for that machine.

However, it was through CPAPTalk.Com that I knew to get software and a card reader. It was through this Forum that I knew to talk to the sleep center where I would have my titration and try on masks BEFORE the titration to find one that would work for me. It was through this Forum that I learned how critical controlling mask leaks is -- and that if you try one thing for a few nights and it doesn't work, then keep trying until you find something that does.

The RT was also helpful when it came to sorting out the fact that I needed an EPAP lower than my MinIpap in order to breathe without triggering centrals and excessive leaks. But I wouldn't have even known that was why I was struggling with the machine without the ability to monitor my data.

Since the initial positive experience, the RT has been... resistant... to my wish for a back-up mask, to my wish for a back-up full-face or oral mask for use if I should get a respiratory infection, and to several other things.

Apria is very slow about filling orders -- three weeks to get a set of direct seals to try with my CL2 mask because the nasal mask which I used for the titration wasn't working well at home, and the small nasal pillows for the same mask were too small, but the medium pillows were too large -- I couldn't get a good seal on either of them. The direct seals work perfectly for me, with a little lab-ratting.

Compare three weeks for the direct seals to two days for ordering something from CPAP.COM!

I wish I could just call my insurance for an authorization, order what I want from CPAP.COM, and then submit the invoice to the insurance for reimbursement!

[RipVW]

My supplier has been perfect (it's cpap.com!)

[RosemaryB]

In addition to my bricks and mortar DME, also use cpap.com and am always extremely happy with them. They get an A+ in my book. In the future, when anyone I'm close to needs a cpap, I will tell them just to go to cpap.com. The one elderly relative I've helped with the process has had such bad luck with hers. We had a bit of a time getting a data capable machine and the manager argued with me that the low cost one would record data on AHI. It was the cheapie model and would not. They lied, lied, lied. She actually got to use a Hybrid during her titration study cause she had a great tech in her small town of 7,000. The DME dragged their feet all over. She finally got it but it was hard, and I called them a bunch, with veiled threats about reporting them to the licensing bureau, etc. They sent a nurse out to help her fit it. The nurse had it all wrong, completely wrong. She said to me "I just waited till she left and did it myself, I could tell she didn't understand it, but it wasn't all that hard." Unfortunately, that nurse gave her small pillows so she had constant leaks. We detected this since she had the data capable machine and were able to get her the medium pillows. On and on. . . I really wish I had recommended that she go with cpap.com instead. I underestimated her ability to figure it out on her own and since they sent a nurse to her home, I figured it would work better for her. She's doing well, but her DME is nothing but a hindrance. Terrible!

[Lord Darth Beavis]

My answer is a qualified yes.

I did not understand about complex apnea, and would have had no idea what kind of machine to order. The RT at the New Orleans Apria did, and recommended my BiPAP Auto SV, suggesting that the doctor write the prescription specifically for that machine.

However, it was through CPAPTalk.Com that I knew to get software and a card reader. It was through this Forum that I knew to talk to the sleep center where I would have my titration and try on masks BEFORE the titration to find one that would work for me. It was through this Forum that I learned how critical controlling mask leaks is -- and that if you try one thing for a few nights and it doesn't work, then keep trying until you find something that does.

The RT was also helpful when it came to sorting out the fact that I needed an EPAP lower than my MinIpap in order to breathe without triggering centrals and excessive leaks. But I wouldn't have even known that was why I was struggling with the machine without the ability to monitor my data.

Since the initial positive experience, the RT has been... resistant... to my wish for a back-up mask, to my wish for a back-up full-face or oral mask for use if I should get a respiratory infection, and to several other things.

Apria is very slow about filling orders -- three weeks to get a set of direct seals to try with my CL2 mask because the nasal mask which I used for the titration wasn't working well at home, and the small nasal pillows for the same mask were too small, but the medium pillows were too large -- I couldn't get a good seal on either of them. The direct seals work perfectly for me, with a little lab-ratting.

Compare three weeks for the direct seals to two days for ordering something from CPAP.COM!

I wish I could just call my insurance for an authorization, order what I want from CPAP.COM, and then submit the invoice to the insurance for reimbursement!

Kira, try Community Oxygen. They are Uptown, between St. Charles and Magazine, upriver from Louisiana. I wish I could remember the address. The only reason I recommend them, is my wife used to work for them, and they were great to deal with. If Mark is still there, he's top notch.

As for my new home of Dallas, I've gotten good service (so far) out of Rhema Medical in Denton. Christy really knows her stuff! Now, if we could just find a mask that actually fits my bloody face!

[Kiralynx]

Kira, try Community Oxygen. They are Uptown, between St. Charles and Magazine, upriver from Louisiana. I wish I could remember the address. The only reason I recommend them, is my wife used to work for them, and they were great to deal with. If Mark is still there, he's top notch.

I'll take a look at them when I see my oncologist on Friday. They're right near Touro Infirmary, and a book store or two that we frequent. The problem is that Apria is who my insurance wants to deal with.

I wonder if they'll have a rep at the AWAKE meeting this Thursday?

[Favedave]

Happy? With cpap.com? No. Emphatically NO.

I ordered from cpap.com and my expensive new APAP died after two weeks. They are making me send it back to the f***ing factory instead of just replacing it like a good retailer would. They also messed up 2 other parts of my order -- no USB card was included even though it was supposed to be, and the chin strap was a size made for munchkins. I spend over $1,000 with them -- you'd think they would make it right without making me jump through hoops.

Instead, I have to wait up to 6 weeks to get my APAP repaired.

Not happy. This is a poor way to do business. It's bad enough not having insurance and having to pay out-of-pocket for everything, but when the supplier treats me in such a shoddy way...

Will certainly never use them again.

Hmmmm....I just realized I paid with a credit card...time to dispute the charge? I know retailers *hate* that. Excuse me, I have to go make a call now...

[elg5cats]

I have had a apnea inducing experience with DME's when getting my APAP. After my sleep study, I read about all machines specs and made a decision what I thought would work best for me. DME #1 I was told I would have to fail CPAP before insurance would allow APAP and MD wouldn't prescribe APAP anyway. DME #2 I was told I would have to pay a mask and hose fee if I insisted on a APAP which then changed to an administrative fee of $200. DME #3 Said "insurance won't pay for it, you have to get xbrand and no APAP. DME #4 Sales my preferred brand only. Looked like a winner, nice initial consult and ordered machine. No Show appointment to pick up machine after I drove 45 minutes in frigid bad weather. When I called the 800 number the I was told to call them back in 15 minutes. Then RT called and blamed me for his failure to be at appt..during blame made references to sick kid and daycare issues...adamantly blamed me for his NS.. I waited one hour in my car freezing while they "accomodated me" at my scheduled appointment time. RT knew minimal of machine, set up no optional features, was frustrated her Holiday shopping was interrupted. When I called ofice manager to discuss the NS, she could have cared less, said another RT would see. This RT called me and "B" me out making references to "office talk." Scheduled an appt 3 weeks later to "set up machine and educate." I cancelled the appt..then was sent paperwork to be completed to authorize billing insurance and "customer data." Facts: My insurance does not designate type of machine, only max DME coverage allowed for machines. It's probably considered "double dipping" to charge me along side of billing insurance for in network providers as they agree to insurance payments for services. And likely motivation of limit my decision making is profit driven due to the max insurance reimbursement for DME without stipulations on Brand/Features of machine. I talked with a Home Infusion Company at work last week and learned they are also DME provider. I'll like explore this option for any add't needs as well as online options and file insurance claims myself. I suspect these type of experiences are a serious contributing factor to compliance issues for many. I was clearly unwelcomed for having done my homework and was actively participating in my onw decisions....I kept reminding myself I was able to make the decision on what car I would buy, where I would live, where I work and somehow I could be a decision maker for my APAP!!!!! It was a tiresome "battle" to be an active participant, but in the end I got what I thought best and thus far happy with my decision.